Wed Apr 30 01:00:00 UTC 2025: ## EU Court Strikes Down Malta’s Golden Passport Scheme
**Valletta, Malta –** The European Union’s Court of Justice has ruled that Malta’s “golden passport” scheme, which granted EU citizenship in exchange for significant financial investment, is illegal under EU law. The scheme allowed foreign nationals to obtain Maltese citizenship – and thus, full EU citizenship rights – for a minimum investment of €600,000, property purchases, and a charitable donation.
The court found that the scheme essentially treated the acquisition of citizenship as a commercial transaction, violating the principles of EU law. The ruling contradicts a previous opinion from the court’s Advocate General, who argued that each member state has the right to determine its own citizenship criteria. However, the Court of Justice emphasized that Malta’s scheme undermined the mutual trust between EU member states.
The European Commission brought the case against Malta in 2022, citing concerns about security risks, money laundering, tax evasion, and corruption associated with such schemes. While Malta has defended its scheme, arguing it complied with EU treaties, it now faces potential hefty fines for non-compliance. The country temporarily suspended the program for Russian and Belarusian nationals in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Former Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, while calling the ruling “political,” suggested the scheme could continue with modifications. The Maltese government has yet to formally respond to the court’s decision. The EU has repeatedly urged member states to abolish similar investor citizenship programs due to their inherent risks.
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